THE POLICE CLOUD

Following in the footsteps of New Yorker colleagues Ian Falconer and Maira Kalman (the latter is depicted on the back dust jacket with an endorsement), magazine illustrator Niemann successfully turns his attention to the picture storybook. His energetic, graphic-style, computer artwork seems ideally suited to this streamlined story set in the big city. Supported by a personified pal named “police helicopter,” a small cloud gets his life-long wish and becomes a police officer. After a few disappointing missteps (he’s a disaster at directing traffic), the soft, blue-eyed puff finds a better venue for his watery talents as a firefighter. The double-page spreads dominated by geometric forms and patterns display a snazzy sense of color and composition in pictures that support a tale that sounds rather odd but is actually satisfying. Appealing in its simplicity and whimsy, this is a boffo addition to community-helper and weather-related storytimes. (Picture book. 3-6)